HHS Accused Of Playing Favorites With Health Reform Rules

By Rachel Slajda

Law360, New York (April 25, 2013, 7:36 PM ET) -- The top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee accused the Department of Health and Human Services on Thursday of playing favorites by allowing Massachusetts and no other states to phase in certain Affordable Care Act insurance rules.

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, the committee's ranking member, wrote to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, questioning the decision to grant Massachusetts a three-year transition period to adopt the rules.

“It seems only reasonable that the department has the same authority to offer flexibility to all states, regardless of whether or...